Microsoft is acquiring Activision, the troubled publisher of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. The deal will value Activision at $68.7 billion, far in excess of the $26 billion Microsoft paid to acquire LinkedIn in 2016. Its Microsofts biggest push into gaming yet.

Microsoft wants to add many of Activisions games to Xbox Game Pass once the deal closes. With the acquisition of Activision, Microsoft will soon publish franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush.

Xbox Game Pass has 25 million subscribers presently, as Microsoft continues to acquire studios to boost itssubscription service.

Were investing deeply in world-class content, community and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said.

Microsoft says Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard for now. Its liikely Kotick wont remain once the deal is fully closed and after the transition period to Microsoft, though. Spencer, formerly head of gaming at Microsoft, is now CEO of Microsoft Gaming, and the company says the Activision Blizzard business will report directly to Spencer.

As a company, Microsoft is committed to our journey for inclusion in every aspect of gaming, among both employees and players, says Spencer. We deeply value individual studio cultures. We also believe that creative success and autonomy go hand-in-hand with treating every person with dignity and respect. We hold all teams, and all leaders, to this commitment. Were looking forward to extending our culture of proactive inclusion to the great teams across Activision Blizzard.

Microsoft expects the Activision Blizzard deal to close in fiscal year 2023, which means thedeal may not beapproved for up to 18 months.

By F.. Aslam